On this date in 1941, Ferdinand “Jelly Roll” Morton, one of the most influential early jazz pianists and composers, passed away, at the age of 56 in Los Angeles. Morton was a key figure in the development of jazz, particularly known for blending ragtime, blues, and improvisation into a more structured and sophisticated form of the genre. His compositions, such as King Porter Stomp, Black Bottom Stomp, and Jelly Roll Blues, became jazz standards.
Despite his significant contributions to jazz, he struggled in his later years, as swing music overshadowed his earlier New Orleans-style jazz. However, his legacy was later revived, and he is now recognized as one of the greatest jazz pioneers of all time.
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